Architect picked for new community center

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STEVE DREYER

A San Diego architectural firm was hired Tuesday night by the Poway City Council to prepare construction plans for the long-anticipated Mickey Cafagna Community Center.

A proposal by Jeff Katz Architectural was recommended by city staff and a council-appointed ad hoc committee headed by Councilman John Mullin. The firm is expected to have the plans ready by next February for a cost not to exceed $1.125 million.

Bob Manis, the city’s director of development services, said that once the plans are ready, the preparation of bid documents will take three months. Bids could be awarded in June 2019, with construction expected to take 12 to 15 months. Both the Community Center and Senior Center at Community Park will be demolished to make way for the new building, he said.

How large the new “intergenerational” center will be is still under debate. The council is exploring two construction options. The architect will prepare plans for a 18,450-square-foot building with one large meeting room and five classrooms, along with restrooms, office space and a kitchen. The architect will also provide information on what would be involved in adding a second meeting room, another classroom and a larger restroom area, Manis said. The larger option would encompass 22,587 square feet.

It will all get down to dollars. Estimates from last year peg the smaller option at $11.8 million and larger space at $13.4 million. The problem is, the city has $9.8 million set aside, including the architect’s fees.

Council members said they should have a better idea of true projected costs after the first of the year and will address the funding gap. Manis said the city will hire a construction cost expert who, along with the ad hoc committee, will keep a close eye on projected expenses.

The new center has been the subject of many public meetings since 2006. Earlier plans were shelved, first due to the dissolution of the local redevelopment agency and then the Great Recession. Discussions were revived four years ago. Last year, soaring construction cost projections forced the downsizing of the new center from 36,000 square feet.